Eat a baguette.

One skill I’ve been working on lately is to turn off the little voice in my head that likes to analyse the language of the book I’m reading. Many hours spent cramming in the library at University, desperately searching for a new meaning to an author’s metaphor had taken out the joy of reading. So, now I have decided to read for reading’s sake and enjoy the story, the characters, the intrigue and the act of reading over trying to apply Barthe’s article ‘Death of the Author’ to every page.

My plan went rather well on holiday as I immersed myself in Margaret Atwood’s gripping Handmaid’s Tale. One of the best dystopian future visions I have ever read. I felt that time was running out for the heroine’s biological clock as the story reached it’s crescendo. Not necessarily a light holiday read, as you won’t be able to remove yourself from your sun lounger until you close it for good.

I have just finished Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks and it is a strong contender for my top ten favourite books of all time. Her prose is vivid, varied and mesmeric. I found myself instantly sucked in to the tiny village being torn apart by the godless Plague. Again perhaps not a relaxing beach read but an excellent study of human behaviour in a crisis.

Next on my summer reading list is Diving Belles by Lucy Wood, her first novel and a collection of short stories, which received a fantastic review in June’s edition of Marie Claire magazine.

My summer reading list:

1)   Diving Belles by Lucy Wood

2)   Bring up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel-with a 200 waiting list at the Idea Store Canary Wharf I think I might have to buy it!

3)   American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis-the film scared me silly I bet the book will be even more frightening!

4)   The Sea by John Banville

If you have any other reading suggestions please let me know!

I’ve been back home for just under a week and it feels odd not to pop to the bakery to purchase a baguette on a daily basis. Not that I only miss the wondrous and delicious treasures of baked goods available in Cannes, I miss the sunshine much more, but my friends the most. No wonder the British are so obsessed by the weather, it’s ever changing and very tricky to dress for.

Since I’ve been home, I went down to Brighton for the day and quickly felt nostalgic for the glory days of student life. Judith bought some amazing clothes; a blue shirt dress, an Aztec print maxi dress and a smart black jacket at Emma Plus. As the ladies fawned over us, topping up the cava and producing endless trays of salmon nibbles, the designer Anna Scholz appeared and showcased her collection. Here’s the link: http://www.annascholz.com/. Lovely clothes and it proves that just because someone is ‘plus size’ (I hate the term) doesn’t mean they have a limited choice of clothing. 

On Monday I began the job hunt, scouring the jobs section of the Guardian website, graduate sites and networking. What an exhausting process it is! 

At the moment I’m getting very excited about the holiday to Gran Canaria in June and have been looking at silly shorts and ‘clubbing wear’ I could indulge in. Could. It’s an option and one must always look the part.

So overall it’s been great to be back home and I’m slightly jealous of all the baguettes my friends in Cannes can still eat. Stuff the film festival, it’s all about the bread. 

I had my last class today. We discussed fairy tales and a student wrote a story about an evil bear that was either very angry or hungry, or possibly both. Pronouncing the ‘h’ sound is still rather tricky for the students. It was both a relief and a shame that I’ve finished the assistantship. I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience and will be sad to leave the French Riviera.

Enough of sentimental nostalgia for now, I need to pack for my séjour in gay Paris. 

Being British I feel it natural to be obsessed by the weather. It has been sunny and glorious in Cannes, with a light breeze. Divine. We took a picnic on the beach last weekend and ate some lovely German apple crumble made by Jenny’s friend Nina. Plus, I hear it has been equally pleasant back home. Yes spring has arrived at last! I’m going to London for a week on Sunday; I’ll be playing tour guide/chaperone for my favourite class and can’t wait!

On the flipside here are some worrying phrases from the students lately:

“I hate the Ch’tis” (people from Northern France)

“I don’t like Chinese, they are everywhere”

“I hate Americans”

Well, maybe they don’t like you either! Racism is not cool or acceptable and never will be. It was shocking to hear opinions like these from 18 year olds who seemed intelligent.

Excellent quotes from the week:

Student 1: “I’m doing my presentation on the Queen”

Me: “Ok, Elizabeth II”

Student 1: “No, Radio gaga the Queen”

I now have the image of the Queen singing Radio gaga in my head.

Student 2: “I ate the young lunch in Germany” This being a mistranslation of le petit déjeuner. I eat cereal for my young lunch, how about you? 

A group of feisty girls doing a role-play on how to behave on a plane, “Kiss my hass!” 

One pupil talking about what they did during their holiday, “I was in a fast-food”. 

Talking about Harry Potter, “He is not very interest me, I don’t like!” 

Things I have started to say because of living in France, “Ooop-la”, ” oh, putain”, “this is the new album of the Rihanna?”